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December 1, 2011

World’s First Artificial Trachea Transplant

by editor

(Ivanhoe Newswire) — The world´s first artificial trachea transplant seeded with stem cells proved to be a success after being done on Andemariam Teklesenbet Beyene at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Beyene had a tracheal tumor that extended to the lowest 5cm of the trachea along with both bronchi meaning that surgical removal of the tumor alone would not keep the patient alive. The removed section was essential for life and therefore had to be replaced. The tumor had grown to the size of a golf ball and had begun to restrict his breathing, meaning he was quickly running out of time. The operation lasted 12 hours and involved Prof Macchiarini and his team removing the affected area of the trachea and replacing it with a tailor-made artificial structure.

The scaffold used in this case was prepared at the Karolinska Institutet with help from University College London, UK, who used 3D imaging to scan Beyene and then constructed a glass model of the affected section of his trachea to be replaced. The glass was then used to shape the artificial scaffold, before sending it on to the Karolinska Institutet to have the stem cells inserted. There, Beyene's own stem cells were used to populate the scaffold, turning it into a functioning airway.

Professor Macchiarini believes his technique offers advantages over other methods in transplantation and regenerative medicine. Firstly, by using the patient's own cells to populate the scaffold, there are no concerns over rejection and no immunosuppressive drugs are required. Secondly, since the implant is artificially constructed, it can be tailor-made to the patient's body size and shape. Not only does that mean no human donors are required (often involving long waiting periods), but it means that constructs can be made-to-fit for people (and tracheas) of all sizes, including children.

"We will continue to improve the regenerative medicine approaches for transplanting the windpipe and extend it to the lungs, heart, and oesophagus. And investigate whether cell therapy could be applied to irreversible diseases of the major airways and lungs," Macchiarini was quoted as saying.